We have heard it said time and time again. Stressed… try self-care! Anxious… try self-care! Feeling lost… have you heard of self-care? You probably acknowledge that self-care is important to your overall well being, yet… why is it so hard to achieve? Here are common obstacles to self-care and how YOU can overcome them:
The myth that self-care should feel good.
Nope. Not true! Yes, self-care works in the long run to reduce stress, improve mood, and decrease anxiety but in the moment it is hard work! It can require scheduling time, making arrangements, asking for what you need or participating in an activity that may not feel amazing in the moment (like waking up early to go for a run!). Self-care is indeed a way to treat yourself and take care of your mental health, however, it’s… complicated. It is hard for many of us to put ourselves before others in our lives. It may seem like more trouble than it’s worth to find time to care for yourself. Self-care is an investment. Although it can take effort and time in the moment, it can create the mental head space to allow everything else in your life fall into place. So stick with it!
Self-care is all you need to feel better.
Ugh, I wish, right? While good self-care can make all the difference, it is just one piece of the puzzle. When you take care of yourself physically (getting enough sleep, drinking water, exercising) self-care is great way to add to your self acceptance and self-love. Self-care helps us recognize that we are worth taking time for. By practicing self-care we are saying, ‘My needs are important.’. One way I have worked on my own self-love is through Restorative Yoga. Restorative Yoga is the practice of deep stretching and meditation. In Restorative Yoga we hold poses for longer periods of time, commonly with the help of props (blankets, blocks, etc). At first, I would think, ‘I am comfortable enough. I don’t need to adjust any props… it’s fine… we are only holding this pose for a few minutes.’. However, through my practice my thinking changed. Instead of disregarding my needs I worked to say, ‘No, I deserve to feel my most relaxed. My most comfortable. Even if it is just for a short time.’ This practice of self-care, of self-love, helps build resiliency as you move about a complex and often stressful world.
There are only a few types of self-care… and none of them seem to fit me.
Self-care is like salad. There are literally thousands of ways to serve it. If you don’t like one kind, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t work for you! It means you may need to change your ingredients. The act of finding your self-care release is, in a very real way, self-care! Look at you! You are starting already! Here are some suggestions of ways to care for yourself in many different ways:
Types of Self-Care (and some things to try!)
Emotional: try… managing your work load, practicing forgiveness, saying “no”, or having a good cry!
Financial: try… saving and budgeting, prioritizing your financial needs, or splurging (hey… treat yo’ self!")
Personal: try… finding a rewarding hobby, discovering your personal identity, or tapping into some long term goals
Physical: try… getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, or going for a walk outside
Social: try… creating healthy boundaries, cultivating your support system, asking for help, or participating in positive social media
Space: try… creating a peaceful, organized, living space; feeling safe and secure in your home, making your space work for you, or using your space to express yourself
Spiritual: try… spending time alone when needed, cultivating deep connections to others, journaling, or meditating
Work: try… creating healthy work boundaries, leaving work- at work (psst… fyi… this includes email!), or taking breaks
What do you do for self-care? Let me know what works for you in the comments below. Did you know finding good self-care practices is something you can work on in therapy? If you are interested in reaching out to me, click the ‘contact’ link above. I would love to hear from you! OK, now go enjoy some sunshine! ☀️